SLAVE NARRATIVES

Ex-slaves from Newton County, Georgia were interviewed in the WPA project in the 1930s. These include:

1. Ernest Branon

State: Mississippi Interviewee: Branon, Ernest "I was born in Oxford, Georgia and moved to Oxford, Mississippi when I was a boy. I belonged to Dr Branon. He had a big plantation, about two hundred acres, I reckon.


2. Burrell, Phoebe Jane
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State: Texas Interviewee: Burrell, Phoebe Jane
I know that I come to Texas when I was a very small girl. I was the property of Chris Carter. I was born in Newton County, Georgia, in 1850. My mother an father was Martha an Orange Bledsoe.
State: Texas Interviewee: Burrell, Phoebe Jane
Mr. Carter owned lots of slaves before we left Georgia. I remember there were fifteen cabins in the quarter lot. When we got ready to leave for Texas, Mr. Carter decided to make two trips. Jest sorter divided up an bring part of us at a time I was taken from my mother an left behind. He brung mother, my baby brother and sister on the first trip. Next time he brung me along with a great many others. We went by boat down the Mississippi River to New Orleans and then by wagons to Rusk where we lived for several years. I longed an wished so much to see my mother but never did till after I was married and had one child. I jest kept looking and hunting an asking about her till we finally found her. That was a happy minute. I know the Lawd heard my prayers that same day I'd find her.